#4712, Ubuntu
Ubuntu, from the Zulu and Xhosa languages, can be roughly translated as "humanity towards others," or “I am because we all are”. The philosophy encompasses a notion of interwoven community, helpfulness, and connection (NewWorldEncyclopedia.org). Listen to music with this idea from London-based Sona Jobarteh, the South African musicians Msaki and Tubatsi, the London-formed supergroup Keleketla!, Canadian cellist and composer Rebecca Foon as Saltland, Catalan pianist, composer, and vocalist Marina Herlop, and Buddhist-inspired music from Japan.
London-born Gambian kora virtuoso, vocalist, educator, composer, and activist Sona Jobarteh is the first professional female Kora virtuoso to come from any of the West African Griot dynasties. She founded the Gambia Academy, is classically trained (Afropop interview), and is the cousin of Toumani Diabaté. Listen to her song, “Ubuntu” from her 2022 album, Badinyaa Kumoo (referencing the mother figure and words of unity.)
Then, hear music a tune, “Subaleka”, or having an equal responsibility to look after each other, from the South African musicians Msaki and Tubatsi Mpho Moloi together with French cellist Clément Petit, which “merges voices, instruments and sounds, across geographies and genres”, creating simple and elegant songs that might touch on the universal themes of love (Proper Music). Listen also to the London supergroup Keleketla! featuring musicians and artists from across the African diaspora: Afrobeat-powered groove by the late pioneer Tony Allen and Dele Sosimi, legendary L.A. spoken word pioneers The Watts Prophets, and South African musician Tubatsi Moloi.
Hear music by Spanish pianist and vocalist Marina Herlop, who combines piano, electronic drums, electric bass lines and lots of chopped and layered vocal lines, all spruced up and made with the magic of Ableton. There’s also music by sax player Marcus Strickland with the band Twi-Life, which inhabits an Afro-futuristic space at the crossroads of Hip Hop, Soul, and Jazz, from their latest record, The Universe's Wildest Dream. And more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4712, Ubuntu (First aired 2/7/23)
ARTIST: Sona Jobarteh
WORK: Ubuntu [1:03]
RECORDING: Badinyaa Kumoo
SOURCE: African Guild Records
INFO: sonajobarteh.band
ARTIST: Msaki x Tubatsi
WORK: Subaleka [5:12]
RECORDING: Synthetic Hearts
SOURCE: Nø Førmat, due out March 10, 2023
INFO: msakixtubatsi.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Keleketla!
WORK: Future Toyi Toyi [4:49]
RECORDING: Keleketla!
SOURCE/INFO: keleketla.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Sona Jobarteh
WORK: Ubuntu [5:12]
RECORDING: Badinyaa Kumoo
SOURCE: African Guild Records
INFO: sonajobarteh.band
ARTIST: Kabantu
WORK: Shantaram [4:56]
RECORDING: Of the People
SOURCE/INFO: kabantu.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Marina Herlop
WORK: ubuntu [4:19]
RECORDING: Pripiyat
SOURCE: PAN
INFO: https://linktr.ee/marinaherlop
ARTIST: Marcus Strickland & Twi-Life (feat Christie Dashiell)
WORK: Matter [3:51]
RECORDING: The Universe's Wildest Dream
SOURCE: Marcus Strickland Twi-Life
INFO: https://marcusstrickland.bandcamp.com/album/the-universes-wildest-dream
ARTIST: Saltland
WORK: I Thought It Was Us [2:56]
RECORDING: I Thought It Was Us but It Was All of Us
SOURCE: Constellation Records CST 094
INFO: cstrecords.com
ARTIST: Saltland
WORK: But It Was All of Us [5:38]
RECORDING: I Thought It Was Us but It Was All of Us
SOURCE: Constellation Records CST 094
INFO: cstrecords.com
ARTIST: Tony Scott/Shinichi Yuize/Hozan Yamamoto
WORK: Is Not All One [3:12]
RECORDING: Music For Zen Meditation And Other Joys
SOURCE: Verve
INFO: Try Discogs.com or Amazon.com
